Pakistani paramilitary unit
This article is about a Pakistani paramilitary force raised in 2003. For a previous paramilitary force with a similar name, see
Gilgit Scouts
.
Law enforcement agency
The
Gilgit?Baltistan Scouts,
are a federal
paramilitary
force in
Pakistan
, tasked with law enforcement in the nominally autonomous territory of
Gilgit-Baltistan
and border guard duties. The force was formed in 2003 under the control of the
Interior Ministry of Pakistan
, but it claims a tradition dating back to the
Gilgit Scouts
formed during the
British Raj
era.
[2]
However, the earlier Scouts unit is now a full infantry regiment of the
Pakistan Army
(see
Northern Light Infantry Regiment
, which mostly operates in the same region as the current Scouts.
Formation
[
edit
]
The older
Gilgit Scouts
was raised by
British India
in 1913 to defend the
princely state
of
Jammu and Kashmir
's northern frontier. In August 1947, the Scouts along with rebels in the
Jammu and Kashmir State Forces
, switched allegiance to
Pakistan
and fought on the northern front of the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947?1948
, conquering important places such as
Skardu
,
Kargil
and
Drass
(the latter two were subsequently recaptured by the
Indian Army
). In 1949, the Gilgit Scouts were split into two forces, with the wing under the original name 'Gilgit Scouts' designated for internal security operations, and a second wing, named the 'Northern Scouts', designated for major external operations. In 1964, the Northern Scouts were further bifurcated with the raising of the 'Karakoram Scouts' based in Skardu. All three forces were brought together again in 1975, under the banner of the
Northern Light Infantry
(then a paramilitary force). Following the 1999
Kargil War
with India, where the Northern Light Infantry saw extensive combat, the force was converted into a regular
regiment
of the
Pakistan Army
. The present force of Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts was created in 2003 to fill the internal security role previously carried out by the Northern Light Infantry.
[3]
[4]
[5]
Units
[
edit
]
The force is composed of a headquarters, a training centre and six manoeuvre wings (each approximately the size of a
battalion
). About 40 platoons have been tasked with law enforcement within Gilgit-Baltistan, including seizure of unauthorised weapons.
[6]
The Scouts went through an expansion phase in 2014, with more than 1,500 new personnel being recruited to help with law enforcement on critical infrastructure projects such as the
Karakoram Highway
. A sixth wing was also added, charged with protecting the building of the
Diamer-Bhasha Dam
[7]
- Interior Ministry support
Ranks
[
edit
]
Standard equipment
[
edit
]
Appearance
[
edit
]
The formal headwear of the scouts are somewhat similar to the ones worn by the
Pakistan Rangers (Punjab)
.
Operations and Internal Security
[
edit
]
The Force has been performing both operational and Internal Security tasks since its raising. The Special Composite Task Force formed for the protection of
Karakoram Highway
is commanded by the Gilgit?Baltistan Scouts. The Force also took part in recent operations in
Waziristan
.
Director Generals
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Federal Budget 2020?2021: Details of demands for grants and appropriations"
(PDF)
.
National Assembly of Pakistan
. p. 2531
. Retrieved
19 December
2022
.
- ^
Hussain, Ejaz.
"History of Gilgit Baltistan Scouts (GB Scouts)"
.
gilgitbaltistanscouts.gov.pk
. Archived from
the original
on 8 January 2017.
- ^
Northern Light Infantry Regiment (NLI)
Archived
2018-03-25 at the
Wayback Machine
, Pakistan Army, retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^
"History of Gilgit Baltistan Scouts"
. Archived from
the original
on 4 July 2018.
, Gilgit Baltistan Scouts, retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^
Snedden, Christopher (2015),
Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris
, Oxford University Press, p. 255,
ISBN
978-1-84904-342-7
- ^
a
b
"20 Months Achievements"
(PDF)
.
National Database and Registration Authority
. p. 66. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 15 January 2023
. Retrieved
10 December
2022
.
- ^
Mukhtar, Imran (26 September 2014).
"Provinces issuing arms licences under 18th amend"
.
The Nation
. Retrieved
10 December
2022
.
recruited 1530 for security of under construction Pak-China corridor
- ^
"COAS Attends the Closing Ceremony of 42nd Pakistan Army Rifle Association Central Meet"
.
Hilal: The Pakistan Armed Forces Magazine
. Retrieved
9 December
2022
.
- ^
"20 Months Achievements"
(PDF)
.
National Database and Registration Authority
. p. 12-14. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 15 January 2023
. Retrieved
27 December
2022
.
External links
[
edit
]
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